A new Director General of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation could be known by Friday.
This is after the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) Tuesday conducted interviews and vetting on ten shortlisted candidates to fill the vacant position left by former DCI George Kinoti.
Friday will mark 14 days, the period the acting DCI Hamisi Massa was to be in office pending appointment of a substantive DCI boss.
Massa was named the acting DCI on September 30 after the exit of Kinoti.
The police employer started interviewing the ten candidates who had been shortlisted in a marathon event at the Kenya School of Government and retreated for analysis of their performance and awarding before naming the top three winners.
Commission chairman Eliud Kinuthia said the ten were suitable for the interviews and vetting.
“We will give a report by Friday which is the 14th day of the lapse of the period given,” Kinuthia said.
He said they had received various reports from Kenyans on the candidates which will be considered.
The sessions were done in closed doors for security reasons, Kinuthia revealed.
“We are dealing with security issues and this will remain closed doors. We will make the report public,” he said.
The candidates are all seasoned officers who have risen through the ranks to their current positions.
Thy include director of Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) Mohamed Amin, Coast head of DCI Bernard Barasa, director of reforms at the DCI Eliud Lagat, the principal assistant to the Inspector General of police Munga Nyale and Bomet County police commander Esther Seroney.
Others are director of reforms at police headquarters David Birech, head of investigations at Insurance Fraud, Michael Jonyo Wiso, director of planning at DCI Nicholas Kamwende, former regional Coast police commander Paul Ndambuki and head of DCI Railways Dr Wanderi Mwangi.
The law says the Commission shall consider the applications, conduct public interviews and shortlist at least three persons qualified for the positions advertised.
After the interviews, the Commission will submit the three names to the President on Thursday for appointment as the new DCI.
The President shall then within seven days of receipt of the names forwarded under subsection (5), by notice in the Gazette, appoint a person as the Director of Criminal Investigations.
"The names of the shortlisted persons under subsection (3) shall be published in the Gazette. The Commission shall, within seven days from the date of publication of names under subsection (4), forward the shortlisted names to the President,” the National Police Service Act states.
The candidates were questioned on their wealth, experience, why they want to be the DCI and what they have to offer.
Applicants were required to be degree holders, posses 10 years experience and proven knowledge of criminal investigations.
The position fell vacant following the resignation of Kinoti in an announcement made by President William Ruto on September 27.
And ahead of the retreat, the Commission approved the transfer of services for Kinoti to Public Service Commission (PSC).
This is on condition Kinoti will remain with remuneration and privileges personal to himself, with effect from September, 27 2022 until attainment of mandatory retirement age.
The main functions of the DCI include collection and provision of criminal intelligence, investigations on serious crimes including homicides, narcotics, money laundering and economic crimes, maintaining of law and order and detection and prevention of crime.
They also apprehend offenders, maintain criminal records, coordinate country Interpol Affairs, carry out investigation on matters that may be referred to it by the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The personnel are currently deployed to various government offices to conduct their mandate.
The main units under DCI include Anti-Terror Police Unit, Anti-Narcotics Unit, Interpol regional bureau, DCI Academy, Bomb Disposal Unit and Banking Fraud among others.